crashfrog writes:
I'll use a random number generator to determine when and what I do.
Randomly praying to God negates any possibility of a willful relationship. This is the essence of original sin. Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. In other words, ignore what was told to you---that you will surely die. Step into the actual decision making realm and determine the probability of
a) Living through reproduction
b) Knowledge without obedience---no need of God.
c) Finally, believing the realization that humanity is their own authority.
The lie is complete---it makes "perfect" sense, and it even feels good.
Now, lets examine a basic endtimes prophecy:
NIV writes:
Matt 24:4-14= Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.
He is talking specifically to his disciples, but many Christians see this passage as an endtimes prophecy
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
Including many so called T.V. Evangelists who exploit the Bible for gain. Not just Jim Jones and David Koresh.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Why always wars? Humans are intrinsically selfish. They want to keep what they have. Everyone knows that the U.S. not only wants to insure that nobody knocks over their multibillion dollar towers but that we need cooperation among the nations for our own interests. It simply won't do to have the Muslim world control all of the oil so as to dictate any terms to our multinationals!
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
A Nation is a clan. Serbians vs Croatians, as an example. A Kingdom is a national country. Great Britain vs Argentina, for example.
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Here, Jesus is not saying anything about earthquakes and famines being anything caused by God. He is only stating that these events will add to the situation. It is all about cooperation among nations or competition.
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Look at the world today. What if by random, natural chance, we had 5 major earthquakes in a year? One of them wiped out a large portion of the economy of California. How would this country pay for helping any others? If we did not help, how much more of a rise in militant Islamic factions would occur? What type of a future scenario would be set for human relations on Earth?
9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
What if the U.N. had a global solution that involved abolishment of all religions to foster human cooperation? The ones who resisted this proposal would be left out of the economic aid.
10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
of course, many would use human wisdom and common sense and abandon their belief in God.
11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
You know these guys will show up.
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
Because the once mighty U.S. loses much of their economic security blanket, darn well many will be angry! Why share with billions when we have lost so much!
13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
To those who hold fast to their faith of love and of trusting God in the midst of poverty...
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
God would never cause earthquakes.
This message has been edited by Phatboy, 01-12-2005 16:30 AM
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